Plant for manufacturing ceramic products



W. L. HANLEY, JR

PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC PRODUCTS Sept. 6, 1927.

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p w. L. HANLEY. JR

PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC PRODUCTS 2 Q m 5- \ww/ .3. x fl/ .E \mA Q. q HQQQH EYEH E w Qv 5% @lw B s m\ x m 9 8 Mr M ES m m m N x x W/\ o 9.1m. Q mmlmw Mm E mil w mm W R a m x NM Sept. 6, 1927. 1,641,584

. w. L. HANLEY. JR

PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC PRODUCTS riginal F led Jun 9. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I I I I I I I I I I I Imam Y J Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LEE HANLEY, JR., BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC PRODUCTS.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following, description and claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a. plant for the manufacture of ceramic products in such manner as to secure great economy and extremely large output, as well as continuous operation of the plant. My invention is especially adapted for the manufacture of stiff mud: bricks in which it is extremely important for economic manufacture to secure a large and continuous outpuL but I Wish it to be understood. that my invention is applicable also to the manufacture of any other kind of bricks and also other ceramic. products, especially coarse clay products. such as tile.

In carrying out my invention I employ. for the burning of the bricks. kiln or kilns of the tunnel car type, generally designated as twin tunnel kilns and characterized by the fact that each kiln is provided with two tracks extending throughout and parallel to each other, the tunnel cars moving through the kiln in one direction on one track and in the opposite direction on the other. This type of kiln gives a very large capacity with reduced expense of construction and maintenance and obviously it necessitates the introduction of. cars and removal of cars at both ends of the kiln. Adjacentto each end of the twin tunnel kiln or kilns I provide transfer means preferably in the form of a transfer track disposed perpendicularly to the kiln or kilns and extending laterally thereof at one side, and I provide a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars extending between the lateral portions of the transfer track and substantially parallel with the kiln or kilns and closely adjacent thereto.

The forming machine for forming the ceraiuic products to be manufactured and which may be, for example, an anger machine for the manufacture of stiff, mud bricks, is located approximately centrally with respect to the length of the kiln and exterior tracks and on the side of the exterior tracks opposite the kiln and is provided with an offbearing belt which extends over the exterior tracks at a sufficient distance above the same to permit the passage of tunnel cars beneath the belt so that the tunnel cars on the various tracks may be loaded directly. A plurality of forming machines and off-bearing belts located adjacent to each other may be employed where necessary to produce the desired output. driers between the otf-bearing belt and one of the transfer tracks and enclosing portions of certain of the exterior tracks for supplying cars of dried bricks to one trackway of the twin tunnel kiln or of each tvvin tunnel kiln if more than one is employed, and I provide a sorting bench or unloading plat-form extending over the above I mentioned exterior tracks between the offbearing belt and the other transfer tracks, for receiving the fired bricks from the cars which have passed through the kiln or kilns after leaving the above mentioned drier or driers. I also provide a separate drier or driers between the off-bearing belt and the transfer track, most remote from the first mentioned drier or driers and enclosing portions of other exterior tracks for supplying dried. bricks to the other trackway of the twin tunnel kiln or kilns. and I also provide another sorting bench on the opposite side of the off-bearing belt from the first mentioned sorting bench to receive the burned bricks unloaded from the tunnel cars on: the-last mentioned exterior tracks. The sorting benches are preferably located sufticiently above the exterior tracks over which they extend so as to permit a partly loaded car to pass beneath the same so that full cars may be unloaded on one side of each sorting bench and after a certain number of upper layers of burned bricks have been removed, the cars may be passed beneath the sorting bench to the opposite side thereof, upon the exterior tracks and fresh CfiI'ZS moved up to the sorting bench, so that when the plant is in operation. the unloading may proceed from cars on both sides of each vsorting bench.

A transfer truck is provided on each of the transfer tracks to transfer the tunnel cars. I also provide conveying means, preferably a craneway or monorail system or systems, extending transversely over the exterior tracks and over the kiln to a point on the opposite side of the kiln from the forming machine or machines. where provision is made for storing burned bricks or for loading them into freight cars on railway tracks preferably located on one or both sides of I also provide a drier or the craneway and extending perpendicularly to the kiln or kilns.

I prefer to locate the sorting benches which are on opposite sides of the off-bearing belt sufficiently near the belt so that if an ordinary craneway is employed, it may extend above both of the sorting benches and the burned bricks may be removed from both of them and transported over the kiln or kilns to the shipping and storage point. But it is to be understood that I may employ a separate craneway or monorail sys; term for each of said sorting benches, if preferred.

It will be seen that in accordance with my invention the same cars are employed throughout the plant and are moved in the usual or any desired manner from the offbearing belt or belts where they are loaded through a drier to one or the other of the transfer tracks, the cars moving in a substantially straight, line from the load ng point to and through the drier without be ng transferred. This avoids the danger of 1njury to the bricks and of producing a wreck in a drier or kiln which are incidental to the transferring of cars of moist bricks. As the bricks leave the auger machine, they are quite moist and are usually coated with oil or some other lubricant, so that they are eX- tremely slippery and especially Where they are piled in a considerable number of rows, as from twelve to sixteen rows, which can be safely handled in my plant. The transferring of cars loaded with such moist bricks necessitates certain jarring of the car, which is apt to produce skidding or shifting of the bricks upon each other, with the result that the accuracy of the form of the bricks is impaired and what is more serious, the mass of bricks on a car is apt to be shifted to such an extentthat when in the drier or in the kiln the load will topple and cause what is termed a wreck, necessitating the stopping of the plant and sending men into the drier or kiln to remove the wreckage and clear the track on which it occurred. This is sufficiently serious in case of a wreck in the drier, but is still more serious if the wreck occurs in the kiln, as it is necessary to cool off the kiln sufficiently to permit the men to enter it and clear the track and then to again raise the temperature in the firing chamber of the kiln to firing heat. In the case of a wreck within a tunnel kiln, this not infrequently necessitates a tie-up of two days to cool the kiln, remove the wreck, re-heat the kiln and get the plant running again. These wrecks. therefore, seriously impair the production of the plant.

It will also be seen that in my invention the cars are moved from the ofl-bearing belts continuously forward or sideways and never backward, all the cars passing through one trackway of the twin tunnel kiln or kilns,

moving in one direction on the interior and exterior tracks and the cars passing over the other trackway of the twin tunnel kiln or kilns moving in the opposite dire tion over the interior and exterior tracks. it Will also be noted that by transporting the burned bricks over the kiln to shipping and storage points located on the opposite side thereof from the exterior tracks, the portion of the plant adjacent to the forming machine or machines is left entirely clear for the reception and preparation of the materials from which the ceramic products are made. The entire plant may be housed in a single structure as shown in the drawings, or may be housed in separate structures, as preferred.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the parts are represented more or less diagrammatically,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a plant for the manufacture of bricks or other ceramic products and embodying my invention. the said plant including one twin tunnel kiln which is illustrated in horizontal section.

Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of the plant on the line 22 of Fig. 1. looking in the direct-ion of the arrow.

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a plant embodying my invention and provided with two twin tunnel kilns which are illustrated in horizontal section.

Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the plant represented in Figures 1 and 2, 1 represents a twin tunnel kiln which may be of any desired construction, but which is preferably constructed in the manner set forth in my former application for Letters Patent of the United States of October 6, 1923. Serial No. 666.880. said kiln being provided preferably with a firing chamber located substantially centrally of its length and provided with two firing Zones. 2 and 3, located side by side and separated by a central partition, 4, the kiln being provided at each end of the firing chamber with a unitary tunnel section indicated at 5 and 6. the kiln being provided with two sets of interior tracks indicated at 7 and 8, eX- tending from one end of the kiln to the other. substantially parallel to each other, one track extending through one of the firing zones and the other track extending through the other firing zone, and both tracks extending through the unitarytunnel sections, 5 and 6, which constitute pre-heating and cooling zones. The cars of one track move in the opposite direction from the cars on the other track, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. The firing zone is heated in any desired manner. which may be direct tired furnaces or gas burners. indicated diagrammatically at 9 and 10. and supplied with air in any desired way, as by fans indicated at 11 and 12. the furnaces or burners being capable of independ graduated from one end of each zone towards the other and in opposite directions in the separate zones, as set forth in my previous application above referred to. I prefer to withdraw the products of combustion from thefiring zones by means of suitable pipes and use them for heating the driers, or the driers may be heated in any desired manner.

At each end of the kiln, 1, I provide a transfer" track, said tracks being indicated at 15 and 16 and extending laterally beyond the kiln at one side and between the transfer track. and substantially parallel to the kiln I providea plurality of exterior tracks indicated at 17 and 18, for tunnel cars, 19, the cars on the track, 17 bein transferred by a transfer truck, 20', on trie track, 16. to the track, 7, of the tunnel kiln, and passing through the kiln in the direction of the arrow adjacent to track 7, the cars on the track, 18, moving in the opposite direction from those on the track, 17, and being transferred by transfer truck, 21, on the transfer track, 15, to the track, 8, of the tunnel kiln, passing through the kiln in the direction of the arrow, adjacent to track 8, in Fig. 1. It will therefore be seen that as the two parallel lines of cars pass through the tunnel kiln in opposite directions, the incoming cars of dried bricks will be pre-heated in the unitary tunnel sections of the kiln by the heated bricks which are gradually being cooled on the other track, so that by the time they reach the firing zone through which they are caused to pass,-they will have been raised to approximately the temperature at the entrance to the firing zone and in passing therethrough will be completely fired. Thence passing to the other un-itarysection of the kiln, they will impart gradually their heat to the incoming dried bricks on the cars of theother track and gradually cool as they progress toward the other end of the kiln.

22 is-the formingmachine located on the side ofthe exterior tracks opposite the kiln and disposed transversely thereto. and 23 is the off-bearing belt which extends over the tracks, 17 and 18, so that the cars on both sets of tracks can be loaded with bricks from the off-bearingbelt. 24 represents a drier located; between the off-bearing belt and the transfertrack, 16, and, enclosing portions of the exterior track, 17, for drying the brick on the cars moving over the tracks, 17. This drier may be of any desired construction and heated in any usual or desired manner. 25 represents an unloading platform or sorting bench located on the opposite side of the off-bearing belt fromthe drier. 24, and extending only over the tracks, 17, said sorting bench being thus located between the-otibearing belt and: the transfer'track, 115,- and adjacent.:to-. the. off-bearingbelt, and being used to receive'the fired bricks unloaded from the cars moving on the tracks, 17. The unloading: platform or sorting'bench is located 7 i high enough above the tracks to permit a partially loaded car to be passed under thesame so that full cars may be brought up from the transfer track, 15. to the sorting bench and partly unloaded, after which they may be pushed under the bench to the opposite side thereof, while fresh cars are brought up to the outer side, and in this manner unloading may proceed from cars on both sides of the sorting-bench.

represents-a drier similar to the drier, 24, but located-at the opposite end of the plant between the offbearing belt and the transfer track, 15, and enclosing portionszofthe exterior tracks, 18, for the purpose of drying the bricks on the cars traveling on the track. 18. 27 represents a-second sorting bench or unloading platform, extending over track; 18. and sufficiently above the same to permit a partially loaded tunnel car to pass lrcneatln the sortingbench, 27, being located on the opposite side of the off-bearr ing belt from the sorting bench, 25, and serving for the unloadingand sorting of bricks from the cars tra eling on the tracks,

18, the general direction of movementof thecars on the tracks, 17. and 18, being a'sindicated by arrows-adjacent thereto.-; The cars may be propelled in any usual or desired manner. It-will be noted that the tracks. 17 and 18, extend in a substantially straight line from the oft-bearing belt to and, through the respectivedriers,-24 and 26, so that there is no appreciable jarring of the soft bricks in moving them to and through the drier,- and they arenot transferred until after they leave the drier when they are in sufficiently,

hard condition to be able to sustain thenecessa r v jol-tingin moving the cars onto and off of the transfer trucks without injury to -the bricks and without the danger of a wreck-in the driers or=in the kiln.

The unloading or sorting benches are located in rather close proximity to the offbearing belt, in order to provide a desirable amount of storage space for loaded cars of tired bricks between them and the nearer adjacent transfer track, and also to bring-- tends and I have also shown a railwaytrack v138] at each side of the storage and shipping room, as at 30 and 31, extending transversely with respect to the kiln, on which freight ars may be run and loaded by the crane directly from the sorting benches or from the stock in the storage warehouse. as preferred.

Instead ofl av ng a wi h: eranewav'extending above both of the sorting platforms or benches, I may employ the monorail system of transp: ition and employ a separate monorail and c for each of the sorting; benches, but I prefer to employ the usual craneway and crane, The burned bricks may he ndled from the sorting benches in any desired manner. In 2, for eX ample I have shown a crane 82', provided with a liftingyokei and hooks, 34. for engaging eyes or slots, 35, in the end plates of platforms, 36 by m ans of which a considerable quantity of l cks may be elevated and carried to the point of shipment or storage. These platforms or boxes 36, form a convenient means of sorting the bricks as they are taken from the loaded tunnel cars. The tunnel cars may be operated on the tracks, 17 and 18, and th ough the driers in any u ual or desired manner. In the present instance I have shown an additional track. indica ed at 37, between the pairs of exterior tracks, 17. and a similar additional track, 38 between. the pairs of exterior tracks, 18, and on these extra tracks I prefer to providea motor propelled device, as an electric locomotive, indicated respectively at 39 211111 10, which be connected with the cars on the adjacent tracks on either side of the extra tracks, by chains or other suitable means. so as to move a single tunnel car or a row of cars, as may be preferred. I

have found this method of moving the cars particularly desirable in the case of moving the stiff innd bricks to and through the driers, as motion can thereby be imparted to a caror cars in a very gradual and easy manner withoutappreciable a r. The electric locomotive is' so constructed as to readily pass beneath the ofi-bearing belt and the sorting benches, so that it can be used not only for transporting cars into the drier. but also for bringing the loaded. cars of fired bricks from "the transfer track at the opposite end of the track to the sorting: table or bench. The extra tracks are not extended into the dricrs, as it would be. nndersirable and unnecessary to run electric locomotives into contact. with the high temperature therein maintained.

The transfer trucks, 20 and 21, may be operated in any usual or desired manner. I prefer to provide them with electric motors for propellingthem. with a l aded car thereon, between the exterior tracks and the kiln. Suitable means of any usual or desiret character are also provided for moving the line of cars within the kiln longitudinally ucts.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated another plant embodying my present invention, in which, for the production of greater output, I have shown two twin tunnel kilns with a correspondingly increased number of exterior tracks and driers, the other features of the plant being arranged and combined in substantially the same manner as illustrated and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In Figures 3 and 4 the corresponding parts hereinl'iefor-e described are 'idicated by the same nnmoers with the addition of 100. 101 represents one of the twin tunnel kilns, provided with the tracks, 7 and 8, on which rows of cars are propelled in reverse directions, and alongside of this said kiln is located a second twin tunnel kiln, indicated at 101 provided with the tracks, 107 and 108 the arrows in Fig. 3 indicating the direction of travel of the tunnel cars, 119. At each end of the two twin tunnel kilns are located the transfer tracks. 115 and 116 extending laterally at one side of the kilns Between the transfer tracks are the exterior tracks, 117 and 118. 122 represents the forming" machine or brick making ma him, and 123 represents the off-bearing belt ex tending transversely across all of the tracks, 117 and 118. As before stated, I may employ two forming machines and two offbearing belts, arranged in close proximity, if desired and found necessary to maintain the output of the plant, and I have shown two of these forming machines and two oil"- bearing belts in Fig. 3. it being; understood that I may use one or a pluralitv of the same as may be necessary. The off-bearing belt or belts are arranged a sntiicient ele vation to permit he passage ot the tunnel cars beneath the same.

In this instance I have shown two driers, 124 and 124*, each enclosing a pair of the tracks, 117, and located at one end of the plant adjacent to the transfer track, 116, and I have shown two other driers. 126 and 126, located at the other end of the plant adjacent to the transfer track, 115. The transfor tracks are provided with transfer trucks, 120 and 121, as previously described and I have in this instance provided each set of tracks, 117 and 118, with two extra tracks,

137, 137*, 138, and 13821 01 the electric locomotives, 189, 139 l iOvand 140. I have .also

provided the sorting benches or unloading platforms, 125, extending over all of the tracks, 117, and 12?, extending over all of the tracks, 118, said sorting benches being located on opposite sidesof the off-bearing belt in the same manner as previously described. Obviously, the sorting bench could be divided into units if found desirable, but I prefer to employ a single bench extending over all the tracks on which the cars move in the same direction, and the sorting benches are within the scope of a craneway, 128, extending transversely of the plant over the exterior tracks and into and through the storage vand shipping shed or room, 129, provided on opposite sides with the railway tracks, 130 and 131, disposed transversely to the kilns. The operation of the plant will be the same as that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, except that, obviously, the output will be practically double that of the plant shown in those figures. By the employment of twin tunnel kilns and especially twin tunnel kilns of the type hereinbefore described, great economy of initial cost is efi'ected in relation to the capacity of the plant, over one which would have to be provided with four single tunnel kilns to produce the same output, and there is also great economy in the amount of fuel required for heating the kilns, in the use of tunnel kilns of the character described, in which the exchange of heat between the fired bricks on one track and the unfired bricks on the other track in the unitary end sections of the kiln, effects the preheating of the unfired bricks and the cooling of the tired bricks Without additional fuel consumption. The arrangement of the plant also facilitates the loading of the tunnel cars with the green bricks at a substantially central point in the line of the exterior tracks from one or more off-bearing belts, which preferably extend over all the tracks, the cars then proceeding in opposite directions on the different sets of tracks to and through the driers, and being then transferred to twin tunnel kilns, pursuing their course in opposite directions therein thusmaking two continually moving circuits for the cars, in which the cars are always moved progressively forward (or laterally) and never rearwardly, and ail the loaded cars from both circuits are brought to an approximately central point where they are unloaded and the burned bricks are thence conveyed to a common shipping and storage point, preferably located on the opposite' side of the kiln from the exterior tracks and the forming machine, thus leaving the portions of the plant adjacent to the forming machine clear for the'fi'eception and preparation of the raw materials.

In the economic operation of the plant herein shown and described, it is highly importantthat the twin tunnel kilns shall be operated continuously seven days in the week. In most instances it is not possible to operate the brick making machine or forming machine more than six days in the week and in some instances it is not practicable to operate it twenty-four hours of the day. 'In order to keep the kiln in continuous operation, it is therefore essential'that sufiicient storage space be provided on'the tracks leading'from the off-bearing belt or belts to and through the driers for an accumulation or storage of cars loaded with urifire'd bricks in suflicient quantity to'keep the kiln or kilns in continuous operation during the period that the'forming machine is not in operation, and it is also important to provide sufficient trackage leading to 'the unloading platform to accommodate the cars of fired bricks which may be removed from the kiln or kilns during such periods of its continuous operation as the rest of theplant is not working.

My plant herein shown and described is particularly adapted to meet these -requirements, as the extreme length of the tunnel kilns and the arrangement of the various'exterior tracks between the transfer tracks over substantially the same length asthe kilnor kilns,and'the location of the off-bearingbelt and unloading platform or plat- "forms, substantially centrally the length of the exterior tracks, provide a suflicient amount of track storage "between the offbearing'beltiand the transfer tracks adjacent to the driers-and sufiicient storage trackage between'the 'transfer tracks and the unloading platform or platforms, so that the'kiln or kilns maybe operated twenty-four hours a: day and seven days a week, whether the 'remainder'of the'plant is in operation or not.

In this way, by increasing the production of the 'unfired bricks before the operation of the forming machine is discontinued,so-as to accumulate a su'flicient quantity to insure the operation of the kiln during the time that the remainder of the plant is idle, the'maximum output of the plant can be'assuredand the greatest economy in the matter of fuel consumption can be obtained, as the discontirruing of the operation of the kiln would cause a very serious interruption, loss of heat in cooiing'and re-heating the kiln, and a very decided lowering ofthe output.

WhatIclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In 'a'plantfor manufacturing ceramic products,-the combination with a burning kiln of the twin tunnel type, having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions therethrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located alongside of the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, transferring means-at each end of'the kiln for transferring tunnel cars between the exterior tracks and kiln tracks, of a forming machine located adjacent to the exterior tracks, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom over said exterior tracks, a drier located between the off-bearing belt and one of said transfer means and enclosing certain of said exterior tracks, and a drier located between the oif-bearing belt and the other transfer means and enclosing the others of said exterior tracks.

2. in a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a burning kiln of the twin tunnel type, having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions therethrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located alongside of the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, transferring means at each end of the kiln for transferring tunnel cars be tween the exterior tracks and kiln tracks, of a forming machine located adjacent to the exterior tracks, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom over said exterior tracks, a drier located between the oft-bearing belt and one of said transfer means and enclosing certain of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon and located between the off-bearing belt and the other of said transfer means, a drier located between the off-bearing belt and the said last mentioned transfer means, and enclosing a portion of the other of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said exterior tracks and located on the opposite side of said off-bearing belt between it and the other transfer means.

3. In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a burning kiln of the twin tunnel type, having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions therethrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located along side of the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, transferring means at each end of the kiln for transferring tunnel cars between the exterior tracks and kiln tracks, of a forming machine located adjacent to the exterior tracks, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom over said exterior tracks, a drier located between the olf-bearing belt and one of said transfer means and enclosing certain of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon and located between the off-bearing belt and the other of said transfer means, a drier located between the off-bearing belt and the said last mentioned transfer means, and enclosing a portion of the other of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said exterior tracks and located on the opposite side of said off-bearing belt between it and the other transfer means, and conveying means extending from said unloading platform transversely over the top of the kiln to a shipping and storing point.

4. in a plant for'manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a burning kiln of the twin tunnel type, having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions therethrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located alongside of the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, transferring means at each end of the kiln for transferring tunnel cars between the exterior tracks and kiln tracks, of a forming machine located adjacent to the exterior tracks, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom over said exterior tracks, a drier located between the off-bearing belt and one of said transfer means and enclosing certain of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon and located between the off-bearing belt and the other of said transfer means, a drier located between the off-bearing belt and the said last mentioned transfer means, and enclosing a portion of the other of said exterior tracks, an unloading platform extending over said exterior tracks and located on the opposite side of said elf-bearing belt between it and the other transfer means, and a craneway extending transversely across the exterior tracks and over the top of the kiln and over both of said unloading platforms, and a movable crane thereon for transporting burned bricks from both unloading plat forms to a storing and shipping point.

In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a twin tunnel burning kiln, having a centrally located tiring chamber provided with two separated parallel firing zones and unitary end tunnel sections, forming preheating and cooling zones, extending from the firing chamber in opposite directions and having two lines of tracks, each extending through the end tunnel sections and one of said firing zones, for two lines of tunnel cars movable in opposite directions thereon, a transfer track extending laterally from each end of the kiln substantially perpendicularly thereto, two series of exterior tracks for tunnel cars extending between said transfer tracks, a transfer truck on each of said transfer tracks, a forming machine located near the center of length of said exterior tracks, an off-bearing belt extending from the forming machine over all of said exterior tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon, a drier for one series of exterior tracks located between the off-bearing belt and one of the transfer tracks, a drier 1 for the other series of tracks located between the olfbearing belt and the other transfer tracks, an unloading platform extending above each of said series of tracks, said unloading platforms being located on tit) its)

opposite sides of, but adjacent to the offbearing belt, and conveying means extending from said imloading platforms transversely therefrom for conveying the loaded bricks to a shipping and storage point.

(3. la a plant for manufacturing ceramic products. the combination with a twin tunnel bur ling kiln, ha; a centrally located tiring chamber provided with two separated parallel tiring zones and unitary end tunnel sections, forming preheating and cooling zones, cxtendi g t lclll the tiring chamber in opposite direction; and having two lines of tracks, each extending through the end tunnel sections and one of said tiring zones, for two lines of tunnel cars movable in opposite directions thereon means for graduating the heat of each tiring zone from one end to the other in a direction opposite to that of the other liri. 1t zone, transfer tracks at each end of the kiln ext-endin laterally thereof, a transfer truck on each transfer track, two series of exterior tracks for tunnel cars extending between said transfer tracks, a centrally located forming machine, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom across said exterior tracks. a drier for each series of exterior tracks. said drier being each located adjacent to one of the transfer tracks, an unloading platform for each of said series of exterior tracks, located on opposite sides of and adjacent to the oil'- bearing belt, and conveying means extending from said unloading platform to a shipping and storage point.

7. In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a pair of twin tunnel burning kiln arranged side by side, a pair of tracks extending longitudinally through each of said twin tunnel kilns for conveying tunnel cars thereon in opposite directions, a transfer track at each end of said twin tunnel kilns disposed transversely thereof and extending laterally therefrom, two series of exterior tracks for tunnel cars extending between the lateral portions of said transfer tracks, a transfer truck on each of said transfer tracks, a centrally located forming machine on the side of said exterior track opposite the kilns, an oil-bearing belt extending therefrom over all of said exterior tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon, a plurality of driers located adjacent to one of said transfer tracks and enclosing portions of one series of exterior tracks. a plurality of driers located adjacent to the other transfer tracks and enclosing portions of the other series of exterior tracks, an unloading and sorting platform extending over each of said series of tracks, said platforn'is being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the oil'- bearing belt and above the level of the tunnel cars. a craneway extending transversely over said exterior tracks, unloading platforms and kilns to a shipping and storage point.

8. In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a pair of twin tunnel burning kilns arranged side by side, a pair of t'acks extending longitudinally through each o said twin tunnel kilns for conveying tunnel cars thereon in opposite directions, a transfer track at each end of said twin tunnel kiln; dispozed transversely thereof and extending laterally therefrom, two series of exterior tracks for tunnel cars extending between the lateral portions of said transfer tracks, a transfer truck on each of said transfer tracks, a centrally located forming machine on the side of said exterior track opposite the kilns, an off-bearing belt extending therefrom over all of said exterior tracks above the level of the tunnel cars thereon, a plurality of driers located adjacent to one of said transfer tracks and enclosing portions of one series of exterior tracks, a plurality of driers located adjacent to the other transfer tracks and enclosing portions of the other series of exterior tracks, an unloading and sorting platform extending over each of said series of tracks, said platforms being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the offbearing belt and above the level of the tunnel cars, a shipping and storage shed located on the opposite side of the kilns from the exterior tracks and substantially centrally with respect to the length of the kilns, a railway track located in proximity to said shed and disposed perpendicularly to the kilns, and conveying means extending from said unloading and sorting platforms across said exterior track over the top of the kilns and into said storage shed.

9. In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination of a burning kiln 0f the twin tunnel type, having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions thercthrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located adjacent the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, of a forming machine located adjacent to the exterior tracks, means for transferring material from the forming machine to tunnel cars on the exterior tracks, said exterior tracks embodying storage portions for tired bricks, a drier located at one end of certain of said exterior tracks remote from the storage space, a second drier located at one end of the other exterior tracks remote from the storage space and transferring means at each end of the kiln for transferring tunnel cars from the drier to the kiln and from the kiln to the storage portion of the exterior tracks.

10. In a plant for manufacturing ceramic products, the combination with a burning kiln of the twin tunnel type having two parallel tracks for tunnel cars moving in opposite directions therethrough, a plurality of exterior tracks for tunnel cars located adjacent the kiln and substantially parallel thereto, of a forming machine arranged adjacent the exterior tracks and remote from the kiln, an off-bearing belt extending from the forming machine over all of said exterior tracks, said exterior tracks including storage portions for fired brick, a drier located at and enclosing one end of certain of said exterior tracks remote from the storage portion thereof, a second drier located and enclosing one end of the other of said exterior tracks remote from the storage portion thereof, a single transfer track at each end 1.

of the kiln and a transfer truck on each transfer track adapted to transfer cars from the drier to the kiln and from the kiln to the storage portions of said exterior tracks.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM LEE HANLEY, JR. 

